OR MADNESS. 249 



my opinion, very powerfully to prevent the contag-ion from 

 being received, which is a peculiar inaptitude in the animal 

 body to receive the rabid poison at some times more than 

 at others, dependant probably on a constitutional idiosyn- 

 crasy generated within, or gathered from, the operation of 

 external circumstances, as peculiarity of situation, variations 

 in temperature, qualities in aliment, &c. &c. Not only do 

 facts coincide with this opinion, but it is impossible otherwise 

 to account for the epidemial as well as endemial character 

 which the rabid malady sometimes assumes. 



The intervening time between the inoculation by the rabid 

 bite and the appearance of the consequent disease, is very 

 variable. In the majority of instances, the effects appear 

 between the third and seventh wxek. Cases, hovever, do 

 now and then occur, where they have been protracted to 

 three, four, or even a greater number of months. Although, 

 therefore, caution should not be lost sight of, even after 

 eight weeks have elapsed, yet the danger may be considered 

 as inconsiderable after that time. A week is the shortest 

 period I have met with between the bite and rabid appear- 

 ances *. 



sible to credit the accounts of the ravages of wolves, we might be led 

 to believe that a superior degree of certainty attended the contagion 

 when received from them. Mons. Trolliet relates that, of twenty-three 

 persons bitten by a wolf, thirteen were infected with the disease. In 

 the Mem. de la Soc. Roy. de Med. p. 122, mention is made of two human 

 persons, with many horses and cows, being bitten by a rabid wolf, in 

 September 1772, and that every one of these became affected. Baudot, 

 also, gives an account of no less than forty oxen, cows, horses, dogs, 

 &c., bitten by a mad wolf, in the month of June 1765, the majority of 

 which died. I might multiply these instances handed down to us by the 

 industry of collators, but the authorities are, in general, so dubious, 

 that they should be received cum grano salis. It, however, may be ad- 

 mitted, that as the wolf usually attacks the face, which is not only un- 

 covered, but, it is probable, is more certainly and more quickly acted 

 on than other parts of the body, so, in this way, greater danger may 

 arise from the rabid wolf than the rabid dog. 



* In the human subject, if an average can be taken in so variable a 

 matter, we may consider, that from thirty to fifty days between the bite 



R 



